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Wild West approach in our public bodies must end - David Cullinane TD

David Cullinane, Sinn Féin member of the Public Accounts Committee, has said today that the Deloitte report into certain payments made by the University of Limerick to former staff shows the need for major reform of our public oversight and accountability structures.

Deputy Cullinane said:

"It is shocking and extremely worrying that the University of Limerick may have misled the office of the C&AG.

"I will press for the Public Accounts Committee to deal with the UL Deloitte Report as a matter of urgency.

"Last year the PAC published its own report into the third level sector that covered some of the issues raised by today's article in the Mail on Sunday.

"On the back of that report my colleague Mary Lou McDonald and I produced a bill that would allow the C&AG to audit all public monies where warranted, instead of the present situation whereby certain funds and trusts are seen as off-limits.

"This is the way that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael want it of course, as it suits their outsourcing and privatisation agenda.

"The PAC will do its job and hold a series of meetings on the Deloitte report, but we also need to recognise that the current powers of the C&AG and the PAC are not enough.

"I have no difficulty with academic independence, but I certainly don’t believe there should be any free pass for any organisation when it comes to spending taxpayers’ money.

"We need full transparency and accountability - and that means sanction and prosecution where wrongdoing is found.

"The wild west approach of our public bodies to public expenditure and oversight must end."